Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1887-06-09
THE SCOUTING PARTY.
by w. II. FALL.


"a Lieutenant Ware will report with a de-
s4nchment at Kentucky Division Hospital
Ipr special duty. j. WALKER,
IA "Major Commanding Scouts.
A Having repaired to the point designated,
81 was greeted by the Major with, "How
hany men mounted?"
& Twenty seven?'
81 "Do you or any Of the men know the
@ountry to the right Of General Bragg's
sposition?"
"a "No; but Major McCann has battalion
S0f Tennesseans on the right, and hisAboys
Sare familiar with every path between Muir
Mreesboro and the Cumberland River. No
$aoubt he will gladly favor you with COM
5petent guide.
81 "Take your men out by way of the
~ Slewisburg pike. will see Major Mccain
||5and request that he will send party to-
yward our right frcnt Go as far rs you
sran with safety around our left wing.
9H on had better report to Colonel Allen, to
a.slet him know your object, and give him
the signals, lest you should encounter
&detachment from his command. u
81 1t should be mention that Colonel Allen
I EEhad, in command of his own regiment, q
\ battalion commanded by Major Alexander,
8 #end two or three detached companies lately
found IN Kentucky, posted his men on our
Sextreme left frent
Learn what movements are in progress,
and note as well the whereabouts of the
6enemy's wagon train. We have informa-
&tion that General Rosecrans has retired his
wagon train to the north of the Cumber-
land. Ascertain what measures are afoot for
Esupplying the enemy-whether the supply
Etrains are heavily guarded, and whether
Anrtillery and munitions are being brought
n forward fro1n Nashville.
Should favorable opportunity present,
{ report to Colonel Allen; but don't rashly
q expose your men; restrain them"
q "Do you see these?"-touching some of
D hand, and pointing to piles of lint and
other hospital appliances with his saber-
E "better these than capture
Il will expect you to report by six a. M.
tomorrow. Ride"
Thus instructed and left to my own re-
4 sources, but little time elapsed before we
were we'll on the road, moving at good
round pace, as our horses were now fresh
\ and ready TO go.
Still they were kept well in hand, for we
4 knew that all their strength and courage
4 would be called into requisition before the
Il morrow's dawn.
Colonel Aliens biyouac was located but
& short distance rearward of the position
held by him in the morning, while his
yidettes were posted we'll in advance.
/ After short conference with Colonel
Allen, during which it was arranged that he
should hold two companies in readiness ito
meet contingencies, /" we left his quarters,
! passed the yidettes we'll to the north of his
position, and made wide detour to the
left, that we might not encounter scout
ing party detailed by the enemy, and thus
prematurely uncover our movement.
That our advance might not be exposed
to detection, great care was necessary,
since any noise would betray our presence
| To avoid this two well-mounted, eau
tious men were sent some distance in ad-
vance, with instructions to keep parable
with the turnpike, and at about two hun.
| dred yards to the west of it, until the house
Of MIR. Brown was reached.
At this place q seconed dirt road lee
across the turnpike and into and through
Mr.. Browns Enclosures on the east.
Upon reaching this cross-road we learned
that "a company of Federal cavalry hat
been there short time before, but it hat
retired to the north on The approach o
darkness"
To be assured that our progress wonlt
not be intercepted, five dismounted mel
were led to the point SO recently occupied
by the enemy, and thence along the turn
Upon finding that the enemy had beel
SO far withdrawn as to permit our advance
we crossed the Lewisburg turnpike, nn'
quietly picked our way toward the rear o
the enemy's right wing.
Now still greater caution became neces
sary; and, to avoid encounter with strag
glers and rowing "contrabands" "-howeve
intelligent-we followed the natural de
pressions which tended toward the smal
creeks which in food-time poured thei
fullness into the Cumberland River.
Frequent halts were made, that we nigh
carefully observe each hilltop in front 0
us, as we'll rs to listen for hoof-strokes o
other indications of the enemy's presence
The heavens were overcast with threat
ening clouds, and every sign promised
heavy rainfall at an early hour.
If we can gain the turnpike whic
leads from Nashville to Triune before tn
rain begins, we may hope for the accom-
plishment of our mission in time to retir
from our perilous position to one OF com
parative safety, thence to Murfreesbor
ato report Mt six o'clock in the morning.
Remember these" dhe surgeons instru
nents) "are better than capture.
We did not go there to be captured,
consequently every precaution for th
avoidance of such catastrophe was closel
observed.
At about eight hundred yards from OF
present position ran the pike which We de
sired to reach.
From this point we might return; for,
cross the turnpike would result only in il
tensifying the danger of our position, as "
would not only be required to continu
guard against meeting rowing bodies Of tf
enomy. but we must also be doubly caref,
against encounte,ing the troops whlc
would be sent around Rosecrans' left ur
Der Major Mccann.